Mechanism of grafting Prunus sp. to control crown gall disease by regulating the rhizosphere environment

Phys.org— Grafting is a traditional and significant strategy to suppress soil-borne diseases, such as the crown gall disease caused by tumorigenic Agrobacterium and Rhizobium. Root exudates and the rhizosphere microbiome play critical roles in controlling crown gall disease, but their roles in suppressing crown gall disease in grafted plants remain unclear.

Phys.org—Molecular mechanism of CmoDREB2A and CmoNAC1 in pumpkin regulating the salt tolerance of grafted cucumber revealed. In February 2024, a research article titled "Pumpkin CmoDREB2A enhances salt tolerance of grafted cucumber through interaction with CmoNAC1 to regulate H2O2 and ABA signaling and K+/Na+ homeostasis" was published by Professor Zhilong Bie's team from the National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops/College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences at Huazhong Agricultural University and the Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, in Horticulture Research.

Phys.org—New discovery of a mechanism that controls cell division. Researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, have discovered that how a special protein complex called the Mediator moves along genes in DNA may have an impact on how cells divide. The discovery may be important for future research into the treatment of certain diseases. The study is published in Nucleic Acids Research.

Phys.org—Researchers discover mechanism regulating bud dormancy release in tree peony. In perennial woody plants, bud endodormancy is crucial for survival under adverse environmental conditions in winter, such as low temperature (LT) and dehydration stress. To break bud dormancy is essential for the resumption of bud growth and flowering. Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.), belonging to the section Moutan of the genus Paeonia and family Paeoniaceae, is famous for high ornamental and medicinal value and is also known as a newly cultivated oil plant.